Apparatus for hydraulic dredging and distributing the dredged material.



No. 746,996. PATENTED'DEG, 15, 1903.

A. W. ROBINSON. APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC DREDGING AND DISTRIBUTING THEDREDGED MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 snnms snsm 1.

No. 746,996. PATENTED DEG.15, 19033. A. W. ROBINSON. APPARATUS FORHYDRAULIC DREDGING AND DISTRIBUTING THE DREDGED MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lUNlTlED fl'rarns;

Patented December 15, 1903.

ARTHUR W. ROBINSON, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC DREDGING AND DISTRIBUTlNG THE DREDGED MATERIAL.

SPECIFIGATLON forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,996, dated December1 1903- Applioation filed April L, 1903. Serial No. 161,031. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. ROBINSON, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, and a resident of the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec,Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement inApparatus for Hydraulic Dredging and Distributing the Dredged Material,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates in plan the dredgeand its discharge-pipe and connecting appliances, showing the apparatusin two positions-one in full lines, the other in dotted lines. Fig. 2illustrates an elevation of the swivel-elbow which is employed toconnect the dischargepipe with the dredge. Fig. 3 illustrates a planview of the swivel-elbow. Fig. 4E illustrates a detail in section of oneside of the upper and lower portions of the swivel-elbow. Fig. 5illustrates a plan view of the outer end of the discharge-pipe, showingthe arrangement and method of operation of the parts involved.

My invention relates to that class of hydraulic or suction dredges inwhich a floating discharge-pipe is employed to carry away the dredgedmaterial.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a discharge-pipe thatwill permit the dredge to have a lateral feed bodily over con siderabledistance, so as to increase the width of cut that can be made ascompared with dredges anchored by spuds in the ordinary way.

The invention also embodies appliances and their arrangement whereby thedredged material may be distributed over aconsiderable space, the samebeing at all times under the control of the dredge operator. I alsoattain various other incidental advantages, some of which will bereferred to hereinafter.

It should be stated that my improvements apply to that class of machineswhich are adapted to cut a straight channel of considerable width inland under water and in which the material is deposited at su fficientdistance from the side of the channel to prevent backflowing by means ofa floating discharge-pipe.

Referring to the drawings, Ais the hull or float of a dredge upon whichthe machinery is placed. Any suitable machinery may be employed. Itherefore merelyindicate the same without special description. The hullis moored in place preferably by six cables or anchor-lines extendingfrom the dredge, one of these anchor-lines B being the forward an chor.It extends a long distance ahead of the dredge. Four other lines, 0 O OC, are the side anchor-lines, by means of which the dredge is moved orfed laterally to dredge a channel of the desired width, and D is thestern line. All these anchor-lines are carried inboard and operated bysuitable apparatus,such as Winches provided with ordinary drums forhaulingin or paying out in the ordinary and Well-understood manner.

E is a centrifugal pump which maybe operated in any preferred manner.

F is the suction-pipe, and G the part of the discharge-pipe which iswithin the dredge. For reasons presently explained it is carried out atone corner of the dredge, as shown at H.

H is the floating part of the dischargepipe, shown in the position itoccupies when the dredge is at the side of the out which is nearest theplace of deposit. H (see dotted lines) is the position .of the samedischarge-pipe when the dredge has traversed to the far side of its out.

The discharge-pipe may be made in any convenient and usual manner-as,for instance, in floating sections flexibly joined together. I prefer,however, to construct it in a special manner invented by me and forwhich I have filed a separate application for Letters Patent.

J is the point of anchorage of the end of the discharge-pipe, to whichthe end of the pipe is attached by means of a double-part haulingtackleK, arranged as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will be understood that during the operation of dredging the float orhull is given its lateral movement, as stated, by hauling in andslacking off, respectively, upon the lateral anchor-lines C C and thatat the end of each lateral traverse it is necessary for the dredge tomake a slight forward advance in order that it may out another swath, soto speak, and this is done by hauling in' on the head line B andslacking on the stern line D, and also as the dredge. progresses alongthe line of the channel in the manner stated the point the line may becarried along the entire natural current of the stream or the tide, as

end anchorage 0f the discharge-pipe should l be similarly moved forward.It is furthermore desirable that the end of the dischargepipe should becapable of movement within prescribed limits, so as to distribute thematerial over a considerable area, and thus avoid piling up andobstructing the movements of the pipe or the proper delivery of thematerial therefrom.

Under ordinary conditions the dischargepipe will assume the form of aloop, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, because of the flow of theindicated byarrows. At certain times, however, heavy winds or thereverse flowing of the tide may cause the pipe to float in otherdirections, and to permit this movement I employ the swivel-elbow L,which is illustrated in Fig. 2 and which embodies an upper rigid part,which is preferably attached at one corner of the float, as illustrated,and a movable part L, suitably connected thereto, so as to allow thepipe to assume any position within three-quarters of a circle in amanner readily understood.

In order to connect the discharge-pipe with the swivel-elbow L L in asuitable manner to enable it to revolve the said swivel-elbow and alsoto enable the pipe to rise and fall with the action of the waves, Iconstruct it in a special manner and with special appliances anddevices, which, however, will be made the subject of a separateapplication for Letters Patent.

Referring to Fig. 5, J, as stated above, is the anchorage to which thedelivery end of the discharge-pipe H is attached, and K is the haulingpart of the double tackle K,connecting the anchorage to thedischarge-pipe. This line is made fast at M to the end of thedischarge-pipe and passes thence over a pulley N, which is supported ina frame 0, and thence between two smaller grooved pulleys P and P,supported in a frame on the end of the discharge pipe, as shown. Fromthis length of the discharge-pipe through suitable fair-leads K to awinch or winding-drum on board the dredge, by which it is hauled in orpaid out, as required. I prefer to support this hauling-line on thefloats, as shown, because if it is not so supported, and thus made tofollow the course of the discharge-pipe, then it will be apt to beentangled at times by reason of the shifting of the position of the pipeowing to strong winds or changes in the current.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the dredge advances along theline of the cut the end of the discharge-pipe can be caused to make acorresponding advance by the operator on the dredge winding up thehauling-line K. Furthermore, the lateral movement of the dredge acrossthe channel will cause the end of the discharge-pipe to make the same,but smaller, lateral movements, which aid in properlydistributing thedredged material. An important advantage results from having themovement of the dischargepipe controlled entirely by the operator on thedredge, because no additional crew is necessary for the manipulation ofthis pipe or its anchorage J.

It will be understood that the suction-pipe on the dredge may extenddownwardly through the well in the center, as indicated in Fig. 1, or itmay be over the side or projecting in front. It is fitted with the usualdredging appliances, such as some sort of drag or excavator capable ofdigging or scooping up the material from the bottom and adapted forlateral feed. It will also be understood that although I prefer twolateral anchor-lines on each side of the float, so that thereshall befour in all, one at each quarter, nevertheless it is not essential,because a single line on each side properly located will often be allthat is essential.

I do not claim, broadly, a dredge having-a lateral feed by means of sideanchorages and,

a head anchor, as the same is old and has been used heretofore withdredges of the ladder 0r endless-chain type; but my special arrangementof connecting the floating discharge-pipe to a hydraulic dredge having alateral feed and actuated in the way described necessitates or makesdesirable the use of the new and improved appliances hereinbefore setforth, by which it is possible for the dredge to work continuously andto distribute the material at the end of the discharge-pipe over anydesired area, and, furthermore, such disposition is under the immediatecontrol of the operator of the dredge at all times. In the operation ofthis type of dredge the anchors are fieeted or moved ahead at suitableintervals by a tug or other means, the usual method being to move theanchors on the slack side while the anchors on the opposite side are inuse,and vice versa, so as not to interrupt thework of the dredge. Thestern anchor-line D may be laid from the dredge to prevent it moving toofar ahead in case there shall be a reverse tideway or heavy winds.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination with ahydraulic dredge of means to give it bodily a lateral feed,a floatingdischarge-pipe of such length as to freely permit the lateral movementof the dredge, the delivery end of said pipe being connected to ananchorage by tackle operated from the dredge whereby the position ofsaid delivery end may be changed without moving the anchorage.

2. The combination withahydraulic dredge of means to give it bodily alateral feed, a swivel-elbow to which the discharge-pipe is connected,said elbow being located on a corner of the dredge whereby a large arcof movement is permitted to the dischargepipe.

3. The combination with a hydraulic dredge of means to give it bodily alateral feed, a

7 corner of the dredge whereby a large arc of movement is permitted tothe discharge-pipe and means whereby the delivery end of thedischarge-pipe is movably held.

4. A floating discharge-pipe having its delivery end attached to a fixedanchorage by means of adjustable tackle and its inboard end attached tothe dredge by means of a swivel-elbow permitting large circular movementof the pipe.

5. In a hydraulic dredge the combination of a floating discharge-pipehaving its outer end attached to a fixed anchorage by means ofadjustable tackle having its hauling part carried the entire length ofsaid pipe and attached to a winding device located on the dredge towhich the pipe is connected.

6. In a hydraulic dredging apparatus the combination of a float, a headand a stern line to determine its longitudinal position, side lines togive it bodily a lateral feed, a floating discharge-pipe pivotallyconnected to the dredge the delivery end whereof is adjustably connectedto a fixed anchorage and means whereby said delivery end may be advancedas the dredge is advanced.

7. In a hydraulic dredging apparatus the combination of a float, a headand a stern line to determine its longitudinal position, side lines togive it bodily a lateral feed, a floating discharge-pipe suitablyconnected to the dredge the delivery end whereof is adjustably connectedto a fixed anchorage and means whereby the position of said delivery endmay be controlled from the dredge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR W. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

E. M. OORBET, A. J. YOUNG.

